Spain
Intern in Madrid, Spain
Madrid is home to a wide range of engineering firms and infrastructure projects, offering engineering interns access to a dynamic professional environment in one of Europe's major capital cities.
Internship Fields
Engineering Internships Abroad
Build Your Engineering Career with Hands-On Experience Abroad
Take Your Engineering Skills Further Than Your Campus Can Take You
Engineering is a field built on problem-solving, and every country presents a different set of problems to solve. Working in a professional engineering environment abroad exposes you to different technical approaches, project scales, and working cultures that challenge you to apply your knowledge in new ways.
Placements are available in small and large corporations across Spain and Latin America, with opportunities in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. Past interns have worked on projects for airports, hotels, hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and urban developments, taking on responsibilities that include production planning, logistics, cost reduction, and data analysis.
Engineering internships are available in Madrid, Barcelona, and Chile, with programs running throughout the year. A working level of Spanish is required, as you will be communicating directly with supervisors and colleagues in a professional setting on a daily basis.
Why Choose an Engineering Internship Abroad?
An international engineering internship gives you professional experience that goes beyond what most domestic placements can offer. Here is why engineering students choose to intern abroad with Adelante:
Work on real projects from early in your placement
Engineering firms expect interns to contribute, and past interns have been given meaningful responsibilities from the start of their programs.
See how engineering is practiced in a different context
Working in another country exposes you to different industry standards, technical tools, and project environments that broaden your professional perspective.
Develop your Spanish in a technical setting
Building technical vocabulary and communication skills in a Spanish-speaking professional environment makes you a more versatile and employable engineer.
Strengthen your resume and graduate school application
International engineering experience signals initiative, adaptability, and the ability to perform in a demanding professional environment across cultures.
Earn academic credit
Most Adelante interns receive academic credit through their home university, with full documentation support from our team.
Engineering firms often look for interns who can commit to longer programs, as the more time you invest, the deeper you can go into ongoing projects. This is worth keeping in mind when planning your program length.
What Will You Do as an Engineering Intern Abroad?
Engineering is a broad field, and our placements reflect that. Here is a look at the types of work our engineering interns have taken on across their placements:
Work in Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil Engineering Firms
Get placed in a professional engineering firm where you work alongside experienced engineers on active projects. Placements are available in small and large corporations, and the specific area of engineering will depend on your background, areas of interest, and the placement available at the time of your program.
Work on Infrastructure and Development Projects
Past interns have contributed to projects for airports, hotels, hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and urban developments. Responsibilities have included production planning, logistics coordination, cost reduction analysis, and supporting policy implementation within engineering teams.
Work on Automation and Data Projects
In Madrid, past interns have worked on automation projects involving multiple programming languages. In one placement, an intern was responsible for developing an automated program that gathered, processed, and formatted data from different logs to produce operational reports with minimal human involvement.
Work in the Automotive Engineering Sector
In Chile, placements have been available within a national corporation that works with both the private sector, including car sales, and the public sector, including city and regional vehicle fleet design and maintenance. This type of placement gives interns a broad view of how engineering operates within a large, multi-sector organization.
Destinations
Our Top Engineering Intern Abroad Destinations
Spain
Intern in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona has a strong industrial and technology sector, with engineering firms working across construction, infrastructure, and innovation in one of Spain's most internationally connected cities.
Latin America
Intern in Chile
Chile has a growing engineering and infrastructure sector, with placements available in both private and public organizations across mechanical, civil, and automotive engineering fields.
Programs
Programs With Engineering Placements
Barcelona
Internships in Barcelona
Intern in Barcelona with housing, placement, and language classes included. Guaranteed placements across 30+ fields, programs starting monthly.
Madrid
Internships in Madrid
Intern in Madrid with housing, placement, and language classes included. Guaranteed placements across 30+ fields, programs starting monthly.
Viña del Mar – Valparaíso
Internships in Chile
Intern in Chile with housing, placement, and language classes included. Guaranteed placements across 30+ fields, programs starting monthly.
What’s included
Every Adelante Program Includes
Affordable Programs
Both our Internship Abroad and Study Abroad Programs are among the most affordable you’ll find. Explore a new country and gain meaningful internship experience that makes a difference, without being limited by your budget.
Centralized Accommodations
Enjoy your own private room in a shared city-center apartment, conveniently located near your placement, local life, and weekend adventures.
Guaranteed, Contracted Internship Placement
You’ll receive a signed contract from your host organization before you arrive. We have placed 100% of our candidates in one of their requested fields and stand behind that with a guarantee.
Customized Program Building
Your Adelante director builds your placement around your background, interests, Spanish proficiency level, and areas of interest. No cookie-cutter placements.
Guided Reflection Exercises
We help you identify and articulate the skills you’ve built abroad, an essential step in translating impactful international work into language that resonates on your resume, in interviews, and on graduate school applications.
Academic Credit Support
Nearly every Adelante intern who needed academic credit has received it. We provide full documentation and can work with your home institution to meet their requirements.
How to apply
How the Application Process Works
Apply Online
Fill out our simple online application. There is no fee to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to get started.
Get on the Calendar
Eligible candidates receive a link to schedule a free, first assessment interview by phone or Google Meet.
Interview
We’ll learn about your background, areas of interest, Spanish level, and goals so we can start building the right placement for you.
Interview Results
In real time or within 1–2 business days, you will receive your interview results by email. Successful candidates receive an acceptance letter with clear next steps.
Confirmation
Confirm your spot within one week of acceptance with a $325 confirmation fee. This means there is no tire-kicking, and you are committed to going abroad. A second interview and full placement details follow soon after.
Pre-Departure
Once confirmed, you will receive a comprehensive Pre-Departure Information Packet with everything you need to prepare for your time abroad, including visa guidance if required, along with cultural prep.
Reviews
Hear From Adelante Abroad Candidates
Read what past interns, students and volunteers say about their time abroad with Adelante.
Andrew G.
Iowa State University
Engineering · Barcelona, Spain
Interning in Spain has always been a dream of mine ever since I learned Spanish and Adelante was able to make it a reality. They helped out with all the steps when it came to location, housing and work placement. I was able to not only gain relevant work experience in my field…
Interning in Spain has always been a dream of mine ever since I learned Spanish and Adelante was able to make it a reality. They helped out with all the steps when it came to location, housing and work placement. I was able to not only gain relevant work experience in my field, but also connect and make friends with people from all parts of the world, put my Spanish skills to the test and grow as a person. I highly recommend everyone to take the chance and go out of their comfort zone by studying or interning abroad.
Mateo P.
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Engineering · Madrid, Spain
This is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. It helped me grow on a personal and professional level. On a personal level, living in the apartment with my roommates and working in a foreign country was an invaluable experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and…
This is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. It helped me grow on a personal and professional level. On a personal level, living in the apartment with my roommates and working in a foreign country was an invaluable experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to embrace new cultures and languages. I forged bonds that I believe will last forever. On a professional level, I was immersed in a dynamic work environment that challenged me to apply my academic knowledge to real-world problems. I had the privilege of working with a diverse team of professionals, each bringing unique perspectives and expertise. The company where I worked felt like a big family, and I was an active member in it. Additionally, the internship has solidified my career aspirations and provided me with a clearer vision of my professional path and future. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and for the support I received from you, Adelante and Eureka. The experience has left an indelible mark on me, and I am excited to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained in these eight weeks.
Engineering FAQs
What Can I Expect as an Engineering Intern Abroad?
Automotive engineering candidates will be placed in Chile, in a national corporation that works with both the private sector (car sales), and public sector (city and regional car/bus/van fleet design and maintenance).
Engineering programs in Madrid allow candidates to learn about automatization processes involving several programming languages. For example, previous interns have been in charge of developing an automated program in which the output of different data logs will be gathered, processed, and formatted to present a report about the operation with minimum human involvement.
We guarantee an engineering international internship will give you the career and travel experience of a lifetime.
What is the pricing for an Internship in Engineering Abroad?
Pricing for an Engineering internship depends on where you will be participating in the internship and how long you will be abroad. Pricing for our programs differs from country to country. Do you want to travel for 2 months or 6 months? This will change the internship program price as well. You can learn more about our pricing.
What do Engineering Interns abroad usually do?
Starting an engineering internship abroad through Adelante can have many different tasks. The responsibilities depend on what engineering field you enter. An engineering intern may collect and analyze data, track progress of projects, prepare reports, and work alongside or shadow professional engineers. All intern responsibilities depend on the company that the intern is placed with and how long they are available to intern.
How are internship placements matched to my skills, interests, and academic background?
Engineering Internship Abroad placements through Adelante are matched based on the applicant’s previous skills, Spanish speaking level, and available time abroad. Many Engineering companies are looking for interns who are available for longer than 2 months. The more time you are abroad, the longer you can dive into projects. Spanish speaking level is also a concern because you will need to communicate with your supervisors and understand what they are asking you to do. Previous skills in engineering, whether it be clubs, other internships, or research, will help us get the right fit in company for the intern.
What kind of support will I receive before and during the program (orientation, check-ins, mentorship)?
The Adelante Abroad international engineering interns receive support in many different ways. We provide a pre-departure orientation with information that you can keep with you while traveling abroad, in person orientation when you first get to your internship country, an in country Adelante Abroad director, and we are always an email away.
When will I know my host company and internship placement?
After you’ve been accepted into the program, our team carefully matches you with a host company based on your background, goals, and interests. Your internship placement will be finalized 1 month before your departure date, giving you plenty of time to prepare for your experience abroad.
Why Choose Adelante Abroad?
Adelante Abroad has earned the trust of thousands of candidates worldwide through 25 years of guaranteed placements and life-changing experiences. Since 1999, we’ve specialized in providing affordable, customized internship and study abroad programs across Spain, Latin America, and Scotland, and we’re not a large, impersonal agency. We’re a team of seasoned travelers and international education professionals who’ve lived abroad ourselves and know what it takes to make your experience a success.
Every program is built around you: your goals, your values, your background. With in-country directors operating full-time in every city where we have programs, you’re never on your own. No matter where in the world you are.
Ready to Apply Your Engineering Skills Abroad?
Engineering experience abroad means working on real projects, with real teams, in a completely different professional environment. Apply today and let Adelante find the right placement to push your skills and your career forward.